Marijuana legalization moves to Vermont House

Senators discuss an amendment before giving its final approval to a marijuana legalization bill at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, February 25, 2016. From left to right are Sen. Bobby Starr, D-Essex/Orleans; Sen. Jane Kitchel, D-Caledonia; Sen. David Zuckerman, P/D-Chittenden; Sen. Alice Nitka, D-Windsor; Sen. Diane Snelling, R-Chittenden; and Sen. John Rodgers, D-Essex/Orleans.(Photo11: GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS)Buy Photo

MONTPELIER -- S.241, which would allow adults to possess small amounts of recreational marijuana, is moving to the House.

On Thursday, the Senate voted 17-12 to give final approval of the bill, following a 16-13 vote on Wednesday.

Senators considered a number of amendments to the bill on Thursday. Sen. John Rodgers, D-Essex/Orleans, offered an amendment that would create more cultivator licenses than originally proposed. The cultivators will also be kept smaller. The change passed on a voice vote.

Sen. Ginny Lyons, D-Chittenden, proposed delaying implementation, but Sen. Jane Kitchel, D-Caledonia, said the delay would pile up more expenses before revenue began rolling in. That amendment failed.

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The Senate gave its final approval to a marijuana legalization bill by roll call vote at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, February 25, 2016.(Photo11: GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS)

Sen. Becca Balint, D-Windham, was the sole member to change her vote on the bill -- from no to yes. Balint said she supports marijuana legalization, but had problems with the bill because it doesn't allow Vermonters to grow their own marijuana.

If the Rodgers amendment had failed, Balint said, she would have stuck to her no vote.

The bill now moves on to the House, where it faces an uphill battle. Speaker of the House Shap Smith saidmoving the bill through the House "will take work." The House Judiciary Committee will be the first to take on S.241.

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Sen. Philip Baruth, D-Chittenden, left, and Sen. David Zuckerman, P/D-Chittenden, discuss an amendment before the Senate gave its final approval to a marijuana legalization bill at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, February 25, 2016.(Photo11: GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS)

Contact Jess Aloe at jaloe@freepressmedia.com or 802-660-1874. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jess_aloe